“Every movement for freedom in society must have a political core in order to support freedom of expression.”

Bull hook.

Once again, with the election of a new president, the file of the violation of students’ right to education has been opened by the doctors. Students and professors whose right to work and education was violated in previous governments are demanding accountability and a return to the university environment. However, in the anti-authoritarian and forward-thinking movement of “women, life, freedom”, having hope in the Islamic Republic system for justice and retribution has fallen into the trap of despair.

The title “Star Students” was coined in the summer of 1385 (2006), during the second year of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s presidency. This was when a number of graduate school entrance exam candidates noticed stars next to their names on their exam transcripts, indicating their special circumstances and limitations in pursuing higher education. This title was later used in speeches and debates during the 2009 presidential election.

The violation of the right to education for dynamic and activist students is also happening in many other countries, especially under authoritarian regimes and also in Western countries under right-wing and populist policies, and it continues to happen. During the past regime in Iran, there were numerous cases of student expulsions and I personally witnessed them during my years at Tehran University. However, in comparison, the violation of the right to education for students due to their thoughts and dynamism, even in activities that are acceptable within the framework of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic – despite all its shortcomings – has special and broader characteristics. It can be said that during the Islamic Republic, students have been deprived of education and labeled as troublemakers unilaterally and by order of security institutions without going through legal procedures or being referred to a court or judicial institution. This trend has escalated and become even more authoritarian in terms of quantity and quality.

In America, the violation of freedom of speech for students of color, especially black students in southern states, has been a topic of valuable research. Many of these cases have been referred to state courts in the past decades. The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) has been involved in defending the rights of students in the areas of freedom of speech and participation in communities. There are multiple legal cases regarding student activities and activism in associations on one hand, and restrictions by university, city, and state laws on the other. One case involved a medical student at an Indiana university who was expelled after a series of disciplinary actions and claimed that due process was not properly followed. The court ruled in their favor and confirmed the inadequacy of the legal process, drawing much attention in the academic world. In the past year, student protests in American universities and their demands for the US government to stop supporting the Netanyahu regime, as well as disciplinary actions by universities to dismantle camps and tents set up by students as a

In Iran, violation of the right to education and prohibition of students from studying has existed in various forms over the past 45 years. After the establishment of the Islamic Republic regime and the implementation of the “Cultural Revolution” and “Purification of Universities”, many elite and prominent students were deprived of their right to education. In 1988, during the presidency of Ayatollah Khamenei, the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution approved that “students who are addicted to drugs, use profanity, or are members of anti-government groups, will be deprived of higher education.” As a result, some of the elites – especially in higher education levels – were deprived of their right to education.

During the presidency of Ahmadinejad, the widespread deprivation of students began by limiting and closing the activities of student associations. In the 2009 election debates, the number of 700 to 1000 star students was mentioned. This was while the Minister of Science of the Ahmadinejad government had shamelessly announced three years earlier that there was not even one registered star student in the country.

During the peak of Ahmadinejad’s presidency, many students were deprived of education solely due to their involvement in election campaigns; an activity that was not inherently illegal, but information and security authorities shamelessly violated all university regulations and student rights.

Despite all the suppression and violation of students’ rights, the student movement has not remained silent and has not stopped fighting during all these years. In that moment, statements from five civil institutions and a news website, which were published on the occasion of the birthday of three students – Majid Dari, Milad Asadi, and Ali Malihi – had a widespread impact on the media.

In this call, which was a significant step towards joint action by student and civil institutions, we read: “This is a tragic narrative of the security forces’ treatment of students who have been arrested solely for their thoughts. It is the story of the best children of this land, who have committed no crime other than freely expressing their beliefs and defending their rights and those of others. These three individuals have been arrested and unjustly imprisoned for peacefully exercising their right to express dissent against a violation of human rights, and are therefore considered political and ideological prisoners.”

After reviewing the 45-year history of the Islamic Republic, we find that the violation of the right to education – especially for dynamic and activist elites and students – has severely damaged the lives of Iran’s best children in a closed and ideological system. In this atmosphere, there is no justice and their cries for rights are not heard, to the extent that a cemetery-like silence has taken over the university space. Deprivation of education rights for star students, creating job restrictions for them, prohibiting them from staying in student dormitories for many students who have not been accepted at their university of choice, the arrest and harassment of students in prison, and other violations of the rights and freedoms of students in the past 45 years are shameful cases that we hope will be closed during the presidency of the medical professionals.

Violation of the rights of Afghan refugees, ethnic and religious minorities – especially the violation of the rights of Baha’is – in the field of higher education is one of the prominent human rights violations in Iran, which has been clearly mentioned in all United Nations reports. It should be noted that today, a wider range of human rights, including the right to education in higher education, is also being violated, and as a result, the resistance and struggle of the Baha’i community continues.

The story of what has happened to Majid Dari, one of the students of the Starry Sky in the past 17 years, is an example of the reality of how deprivation of education and “abandonment of justice and oppression” destroys the best years of young people’s lives. However, in this struggle and conflict, the buried desires of these young people for justice and oppression have led to the empowerment of social, student, and women’s movements, who stand as a powerful force against injustice.

Majid Dari was deprived of two semesters of education in 2007 due to multiple protests against the policies of President Ahmadinejad during his first term, as well as the closures of student associations. After these two semesters, permission from the Ministry of Science was required to extend university restrictions, which was not granted. In protest against this unlawful action, Majid Dari, Mahdieh Golro, Sadegh Shojai, and Saeed Feizollahzadeh, who had similar circumstances, took refuge and all four were arrested.

After their release, this group, along with other deprived students, formed the “Council for the Defense of the Right to Education”. With the start of elections in 1388, Mahdieh Golro was sentenced to 2 years and 4 months in prison, Majid Dari to 6 years in prison in exile, and Zia Nabavi to 10 years in prison in exile. Majid Dari was also arrested several times, with the last time being two years ago in October 2022, during the peak of the “Women, Life, Freedom” protests.

It should be emphasized that the deprivation and expulsion of a student from university has significant effects on both the individual and the university community as a whole. From an individual perspective, the academic and career consequences of expulsion can disrupt a student’s educational path and lead to delays or the end of their studies, which can have negative impacts on their future job opportunities. Additionally, the psychological and social effects of expulsion due to ideological beliefs can lead to depression, isolation, feelings of discrimination, anger, and mental disturbances. These young individuals may feel marginalized, oppressed, and their rights violated. In fact, they are unfairly and discriminatorily targeted, and these feelings can have deep and lasting impacts on their lives.

The financial consequences of deprivation from education and expulsion from university include loss of tuition, in many cases the inability to transfer to another educational institution, rejection of previously completed units, and security and legal restrictions on employment. Unfortunately, there has been no research on the gender and educational level of star students and expellees, as well as accurate statistics on these students during each presidential term in the past 45 years. The Ministry of Science and Universities also does not document and disclose this information in many cases.

In addition, in many cases, students and their families are encouraged not to publicize these injustices and instead solve the issue through bribery and behind closed doors. The security and judicial system also often encourages individuals and families facing unfair convictions to remain silent. However, the experience of civil and human rights organizations has shown that silence is not a solution and publicizing these cases not only raises social awareness but also demands greater accountability from those in power.

The Effects of Student Expulsion on the University Community.

Without a doubt, the central issue of violation of freedom of speech and academic freedom in relation to the expulsion of students can have a negative impact not only in countries like Iran, but also in Western countries, on the credibility of universities and subject them to legal challenges. Suppression of freedom of speech is perceived as discrimination based on political beliefs and can create a tense and polarized atmosphere in universities. This situation not only has a negative impact on the educational experience of students, but can also damage the credibility and social responsibility of educational institutions and lead to further isolation.

International laws and violation of the right to education.

According to international laws, the convention that specifically addresses academic freedom and freedom of expression in the university setting is the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Article 13 of this covenant guarantees the right to education for all citizens and explicitly links this right to academic freedom, stating that it can only be fully enjoyed when accompanied by the academic freedom of professors and students. Additionally, paragraph 3 of Article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights protects the freedom for scientific research and creative activities and emphasizes the importance of academic freedom within the framework of human rights.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights also supports academic freedom, although it does not directly refer to it. In Article 19 of this declaration, the right to freedom of thought and expression is recognized and includes the freedom to research and investigate, receive and disseminate information through any media. This right is essential for academic freedom, as it allows professors and students to discuss and examine their ideas and beliefs without fear of censorship, punishment, expulsion, or even arrest and imprisonment. Additionally, Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes the right to education, which is inherently linked to academic freedom. The right to free education and learning is an important aspect of human rights related to education.

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The trial and prosecution of students, including Starred and a wide range of students and professors whose rights in the field of education and employment have been violated due to the security policies of the Islamic Republic in the past 45 years, is one of the cases that has seriously jeopardized educational security and freedoms. On the anniversary of the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement, we must remember that more than 1500 university professors have been punished for supporting this movement and between 80 to 90 professors have been completely expelled or had their contracts terminated.

Star students and expelled professors are demanding to return to the academic space and are taking action from the new president; a glance at the state of academic freedom and freedom of speech during the past 45 years shows that it is still on the same path.